Whether you are a patient or visitor at Sunrise Hospital, we want your experience with us to be as pleasant as possible. We have provided helpful information to help you during your stay or while visiting a patient in the hospital.

Risk Factors for Nutritional Anemia

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

It is possible to develop a nutritional anemia with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing a nutritional anemia. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.

Gender and Age

Women between puberty and menopause are at higher risk for iron deficiency anemia than men and women of other age groups. Pregnancy also places extra iron demands on women. A folic acid supplement is usually included in a standard prenatal vitamin. Check with your doctor. The supplement is recommended for every pregnant woman, as much to prevent neural tube defects in the baby as to guard against folic acid anemia in the mom.
Infants and young children are at risk of iron deficiency anemia.

Medications

Low levels of bleeding from the stomach are a side effect of aspirin and other pain medications like
ibuprofen
and
naproxen, particularly if taken regularly for chronic conditions such as
arthritis
.
Medications used to reduce stomach acid (especially “proton pump inhibitors”) may decrease the absorption of iron. Other medications, such as the anti-folate drug,
methotrexate, and some antibiotics, can also affect your risk of developing anemia.

Diet

Unusually poor diets, such as in advanced alcoholics, can increase the risk of folic acid deficiency anemia.
In addition, excess consumption of tea or foods made from wheat may decrease the absorption of iron. The diets of infants and young children can be deficient in iron.

Medical Conditions

Cancers, especially
colon cancer
, can cause slow leaking of blood within the body, which increases your risk of developing anemia.
Many stomach and intestinal disorders may interfere with the absorption of iron, B
12
, or folate.
Lead poisoning
in adults or children can also have significant effects on body iron metabolism.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.